AI companies pump millions of dollars to influence US Congress elections

An investigation by The Intercept revealed that two political networks linked to the AI sector spent $50.7 million in the US congressional primaries, then their spending dropped to $8.5 million before the general election, within an election cycle that is the most expensive in US history.

An investigation published by the investigative platform The Intercept revealed that two major political networks linked to the artificial intelligence sector spent tens of millions of dollars in the US midterm congressional elections, held on Tuesday, in an attempt to influence the composition of the next Congress and the future of legislation regulating this technology. According to the investigation, the two networks spent $50.7 million during the primaries, before their spending dropped to about $8.5 million in the period leading up to the general election. This spending came within an election cycle considered the most expensive in US history, as total funds raised before the vote exceeded $16 billion, while advertising spending on House and Senate races surpassed $4 billion, according to AdImpact data. Campaign finance data showed that major donors directed the bulk of their contributions to the Republican Party, with a growing presence of entities linked to the AI, cryptocurrency, and online gambling sectors. The investigation focuses on two political networks that hold different positions on AI regulation: Future Leadership, backed by officials and investors associated with OpenAI, and Public Interest.